Wheaton to hire downtown consultant

Less than a year after letting a downtown consultant walk away because of lackluster results, Wheaton officials say they will try again.

Mayor Mike Gresk said the city will allocate $30,000 in tax increment finance money to the Downtown Wheaton Association to hire a consultant to help spur development.

Gresk said he hopes for input in the search from the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, as well as downtown business owners.

“The last consultant was not the right fit for us,” Gresk said. “The results were not consistent with what we had hoped for.”

Gresk said the majority of the council went along with the allocation during Saturday’s budget hearing. While it falls short of the downtown group’s initial request of $60,000, it will achieve one of the group’s goals in getting some extra money.

Group leaders said they wanted additional money to help pay for street improvements and an art fair. However, officials determined the art fair was not a legal use of TIF funds and street improvements will be paid for by money elsewhere in the budget, Gresk said.

After carving money out of the budget for two straight years, officials last year stopped the allocation for the group.

City Councilman John Prendiville, who will challenge Gresk in the April 5 election, said the previous consultant provided regular reports but the efforts were hindered by the economy.

“I don’t think (the allocation) was wasted, the recession played a big part,” he said. “Our consultant spent more time retaining businesses than bringing in new ones. Now, hopefully, the economy is turning a corner and there is more of an ability to bring in new businesses.”

Gresk said the previous consultant’s reports were “nebulous.”

“The reports were lacking in substance,” Gresk said.

The Downtown Wheaton Association will make the hire but the consultant ultimately will be responsible to the city council. Gresk said specific, easily measured parameters will be established to ensure the new consultant comes through and is held accountable.

“I don’t know that we did that last time around,” he said. “We have to be diligent to make sure we talk about downtown development.”